The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1887-06-03

| 2dtLoI. he was ratnec auSler6 In manner
and was not what you might call hail fellow
well met man. His voice was clear and
wonderfully musical, and he never appeared
anything else than dignifed He was engaged
| to I've married at the time of his death, and
understand that his lady love has since mar
ried. have read his diary, and his short life
was a model of virtue and temperance He
was man of extraordinary abilities and Of
extraordinary virtues, and I doubt whether
the world will ever appreciate the greatness
which he possessed
"Was he anxious for a battle at Alex
andria?n
mo, he was not. He was chosen by Presi-
dent Lincoln on account of his prudence The
president desired to avoid all violence, and he
wanted the Confederate soldiers driven out of
Alexandria without bloodshed if possible.
Ellsworth thoroughly understood this. He
promised Lincoln he would be responsible for
his command, and before they left he made
speech to his men. In this he told us of the
Importance Of discipline, and said he had
pledged his honor that we would act like men.
he had claimed it as our right to lead the
army into the enemy's country, as we were
the first to answer the call and the first volun-
teers sworn in for the war. This right had
been granted, and he concluded his address
by urging upon us the importance Of the
utmost circumspection, 'for the army which
comes after said he, will be judged by you.
We are to kill nobody except by kindness.
Not shot Is to be fired except by orders
"He then left the regiment and wrote let
ter to his mother and father, copy of which
can give you. This letter reads:
"'WAsH1NGToN, d. c., May %, 1861.
MY DEAR PARENTS: The regiment is Or
dered to cross the river tonight. We have no
means of knowing what reception we will
meet with. although am Of the opinion that
our entrance to the city of Alexandria will
be hotly contested, as I am just informed
that large bodyof troops arrived there to-
day. Should this happen, my dear parents,
it may be my lot to be injured in some man
ner. Whatever may happen, cherish the
consolation that was engaged in the per-
formance Of sacred duty, and tonight
thinking of the probabilities of tomorrow
and the occurrences of the past, l am perfect
ly content to accept whatever my fortune
may be, confident that He who noted the
fall of sparrow will have some purpose
even in the fate of one like me-
My darling and ever loved parents, good
by! God bless, protect and care for you'll
"'ELMER'n
Alexandria, and, with Can't Brownell. I
went over the route from where the boat
landed to the Marshall house. "Here," said
the captain, standing in front of a dingy
warehouse, "was where we landed. Just be-
fore we reached Alexandria a small boat
shot out from the shadow of the gun boat
Pawnee, and we came up to the wharf at the
same time. This boat contained an officer
bearing white flag. He talked a moment
with Col Ellsworth, and was informed that
the town had either surrendered or had been
placed under flag Of truce, and that the
Confederates had been given time to leave
the city. Some troops had been sent from
Washington to Alexandria by land, and we
were at this time the only troops here. While
the regiment were disembarkng, a squad of
us, in company with Col Ellsworth, started
up the street. We passed the Braddock house
on the way and our destination was the tele-
graph Office. The city was as dead and as
silent as the grave There was not q face to
be seen, and not window or door op.n
After going two squares we turned to the
left down Royal street to King, and here we
came III full view of tue Marsha house. on
which Confederate flag, about nine by
twelve feet i'll size, was fiuttering in the
breeze. Ellsworth noticed the flag as we
turned the corner. He told a sergeant to go
back and tell Capt Coyle to hurry his com
pany to this spot The Marshall house was
an old fashioned tavern with two old fash
ioned dormer windows poking their heads
out through the roof. There was a wide
double entrance in its front, and wide doors OF
glass led into the Office. We had passed the
house, and / supposed Col Ellsworth was
going to leave Capt. Coyle to take care of the
flag. He changed his mind, however, and
suddenly turned and crossed the street to the
Marshall house. think he remembered his
promise TO the president to act with as much
moderation as possible, and he feared that the
sight of that flag on a whole company would
so infame the men that the captain would not
be able to control them. Atany rate he went
into the house and we followed him. There
was only one person visible in the office, and
he stood behind the counter. Ellsworth
asked him for the proprietor. The man re-
piled in surly manner that he was not
about. He then went into the hall and
started up the stairway to the attic Nobody
tried to stop us, and there was nobody to be
seen When we reached the attic Ellsworth
mounted q step ladder leading to the roof. He
pulled down the flag and we started down the
ladder. The staircase was an old fashioned
lgzag stairway, broken with landings be-
tween each story"
~
At this point Capt Brownell and myself
entered the house. and Capt. Brownell MAX
ing himself acquainted with the inmates led
mo to the place where the tragedy actually
occurred. 1t was on the third floor at the
stairway, and though the arrangement has |
been slightly changed the landing on which
the killing occurred remains the same Capt.
Brownell described the scene i'll more graphic |
words than / can tell it, and he seemed to |
have it before him as he did So |
II had started down from the attic,n said |
he. "and as turned the landing in the mid |
die of the fight saw man standing on this |
floor below at the side of the staircase with |
double barreled shotgun rest ng ON the ban
listers. He was brawny looking fellow and
Was in his shirt sleeves. saw as quick as
fash what that man and that gun meant. It
was in his eye. By the instinct of self pres
ervation rather thar anything else, sup
pose, jumped to the foot of the stairs at
bound and as lighted struck down his gun
with mine. Both pieces struck the hanister
together, both glancing downward until they |
slid off the end Of the banisters, and here the
guns separated. was thrown back, and at |
this moment Ellsworth appeared in sight at
the landing ] had just left Before could
regain my equilibrium jackson raised his
gun again and fired The muzzle Of his gun
was not more than foot or SO away from
Ellsworth. #
Ellsworth exclaimed, My Godp pressed
his hand to his breast and fell dead at the
foot OF the stairway. The heavy charge of
buckshot had pierced him just above the
heart. es
I'm the meantime had jumped back, and
Just as jackson raised the gun second time i
fired upon him. did not wait to see the ef-
feet of the shot, but sprang forward and with
a quick thrust Of the bayonet forced him
backward He fell down the staircase and
lay on his face on that landing there below.
As he fell his gun went off, and had not
been STOPPING its charge would have gone
through my head. jackson never spoke
word from the first, and he died without
sign. It is not true that his body was mu-
tilated, It was taken by his friends to some Z
point in Virginia and buried.
3By this time the entire party had reached
the scene. There was great excitement
started into side roosn to find q place to lay
Ellsworth, and found young man half
dressed on the bed, wno raised his arms and
sid. Don't shoot. A few minutes later
Col. Wilcox, OF Michigan, since general,
,anne upstairs with Capt. Coyle and the regi-
mental surgeon. The body Of Col. Ellsworth